JUKEBOX: Let’s Hear It For the Girl (Groups)!
Rounding out the theme of the week here on REBEAT, which started with Erika’s primer on women songwriters and continued yesterday with our Staff Picks, I thought I’d present a JUKEBOX of some of my favorite tracks from ’60s girl groups. It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of the genre (sub-genre? Who classifies these things?), so the mere task of whittling down my personal, massive Spotify playlist was a chore and will probably result in a few subsequent playlists down the line.
Anyway, here are five of my favorite girl group tracks, plus the traditional Spotify playlist at the bottom of the article! Enjoy!
1) “Egyptian Shumba,” The Tammys (1963)
From humble beginnings as backup singers for Lou Christie, this Pittsburgh-area girl group emerged from the shadows via a trio of their own singles. Though the records failed to make any noise upon their release in the ’60s, the manic “Egyptian Shumba” was, like many of these tracks, included on the masterful, Grammy-nominated girl group box set One Kiss Can Lead to Another in 2007 and elevated the Tammys to their rightful place alongside their peers.
2) “Dumb Head,” The Sharades (1964)
Though Ginny Arnell’s version might be slightly more well-known, the definitive “Dumb Head” — for me, anyway — is this Joe Meek-produced interpretation by the Sharades. Meek’s fingerprints, felt in the crunchy, mysterious arrangement and slightly-off feel, are ironically what make this girl group track absolutely unforgettable. Many of my friends will tell you that when I DJ occasionally in NYC, this is one of the first tracks to hit the proverbial table.
3) “She Don’t Deserve You,” The Honey Bees (1964)
The Honey Bees was yet another alias for the Cookies; they also released “Baby, Baby (I Still Love You)” as the Cinderellas the same year. Co-written by Gerry Goffin and arranged by Carole King, the vibe of “She Don’t Deserve You” predicts the easy-going, mellow groove that would become the norm a decade later, but its humanity lies in its lyrics. The sugary-sweet delivery by Margaret Ross makes angst and bitterness sound angelic.
4) “Don’t Drop Out,” Dolly Parton (1966)
Before “Jolene,” Dollywood, and her over-the-top persona, the amazing Dolly Parton went pop. Most people would have no clue about her girl group-sound past from her later successes, but give Dolly some credit; she’s always been a chameleon of sorts. This hypnotic ditty, backed with “Control Yourself,” matches her powerful vocals with a plead that sounds more like a command. If Dolly tells you to stay, you stay!
5) “The Dum Dum Ditty,” The Goodies (1964)
A year before the Shangri-Las had their way, legendary producer Shadow Morton took the Goodies (then the Bunnies) into the studio and recorded both “The Dum Dum Ditty” and “Sophisticated Boom Boom.” For me, it’s no contest — the Goodies’ version is far superior in arrangement and sound, giving the song a raw grit not found in the Shangri-Las’. The song itself is a product of pop royalty, with a Boyce & Hart co-write, however, the Goodies, a group of ladies from Long Island signed, like the Shangri-Las, to Red Bird/Blue Cat Records, unfortunately, failed to parlay their talent into a lasting music career. Still, if this record stands as the watermark of their success, I’d call it a win.
What’s your favorite girl group track? Leave it in the comments!
